Ruler.



No. 662,380] Patented Nov. 27, |900. v1. c. BAssETT.

R U L E B Application med Ag. 25, 1900.

m0 Model.)

` Hip STATES ATB fr met@ THOMAS C. BASSETT, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of, Letters atent No. 662,388, dated November 27, 1900.

Application le. August 25, 1900. Serial No. 28,085. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. BAssETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Rulers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to produce a jointed rule capable of being used as a square, T-square, or a bevel.

The nature of the invention will fully appear from the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates the rule used as a square. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same folded. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same folded. Fig. 4. shows the rule partially folded to form a T- square. Fig. 5 shows it folded to form a bevel. Fig. Gis a longitudinal section of one of the double joints.

In the drawings a two-foot rule is illustrated composed of five general sections or members A A, B, C, and D, respectively. These are hinged together to fold in the usual way, but with joints which are flush With the faces of the rule when fully extended. Thejoints at the half and quarters are double joints and are clearly illustrated i'n Fig. 6, taken in connection with other figures of the drawings. To the respective sections of the rule A and B, for example, are attached hinge-plates E, iiush with the faces of the rule-sections, as by rivets F. These hinge-plates are preferably provided with bridges E', which serve as abutments for the rule-sections on the one side and for the joint-block Gr on the other. The hinge-plates are each rounded on corresponding corners, so as to admit of the sections folding together, and the block G is similarly rounded at G concentric with the hingerivet H. When the rule is extended, the shoulders G2 of the block abut on the bridges E and keep the sections in alinement. When folded, as shown in Fig. 2, the rule has rightangled corners.

One of the cardinal sections is broken by a joint or hinge I, Which differs from the hinge above described in having but one joint. The hinge-plates of one section I are similar to those above described, but the block I2 is secured rigidly to or forms a part of the other section. This is provided with shoulderplates I3, flush with the hinge-plates and adapted to abut against them when the rule is extended or is folded at a right angle, as shown in Fig. 1. It willbe observed that this hinge breaks in a direction opposite to that of the middle hinge, so that when the rule is used as a square the operators pencil or scratch-awl along the upper edge does not move the jointed rule out of a right line.

In practice it may be found most convenient and economical to make the entire section O of metal, as indicated. For convenience also the rule on one side, atleast, is `preferably graduated at the edges which fold inwardly, which is contrary to the usual practice.

The rule as so constructed is quickly convertible into a square, a T-square, or a bevel, as illustrated, or by folding in various Ways. (Not shown.)

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rule having joints whereby it may be folded to a fraction of its extended length, and an intermediate joint limited to stop at a right angle, and breaking in a direction opposite to that of the adjacent joint which turns in the same plane.

2. A rule having a central joint by which it may be folded together, and an adjacent joint turning in the same plane but in an opposite direction, and limited to stop at a right angle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. l

3. A folding rule provided with flush joints breaking at the middle and quarter, `and an intermediate iiush joint turning in the same plane as the middle joint, but in the opposite direction, and limited to stop at a` right angie, substantially as described.

4. A rule having double joints, substantially as described, at the middle and quarter, and an intermediate, single joint turning in the same plane but in a direction opposite to that of the middle joint, and limited to stop at a right angle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof `I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS C. BASSETT.

IOO 

